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ANNIE WATSON-JOHNSON
Five-Year Participant of the Lung Run
Connection to Lung Cancer:
My mother who passed away from lung cancer in April 10, 2002. She was 60 years old.
I walk for my mother…I wear her on my shirt…and I wear the names of my friends’ family members and friends who have succumb to lung cancer. The first year of the walk I had about 8 names on the back…it has grown to twenty-six names. I walk for all of them."
Annie Watson-Johnson…In her Own Words…
My mother Sandra was diagnosed with lung cancer in the Fall of 2001. She died April 10, 2002. She had been a smoker in her youth, but had not had a cigarette in more than 20 years. She was, however, a polio survivor of the 50s, where she had been in an iron lung because the muscles that controlled her breathing had been attacked.
In the fall of 2001, my mom had a lobe and several lymph nodes removed that tested positive for lung cancer. Three months following surgery and after series of x-rays, it was determined the lung cancer had spread to her spine, shoulder and both lungs. Despite given a stage IV diagnosis and no hope of surviving, my mom fought until the end.
My mother was my best friend. I know a lot of people say that about their moms…but mine truly was my best friend. I could tell her anything, and while I might get a “talking to”… I knew no matter what, she was going to be there for me.